Once Upon a Sat. Night Dreary…Lugosi and Karloff in ’30s “The Raven”!

We’ve got a 1930s classic for you tonight on Svengoolie- featuring Universal’s…and their talkies horror’s…two top stars- as Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff show their Poe-tential in “The Raven”!

Bela is a retired doctor who’s obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe- and is convinced by an old friend, Judge Thatcher, to operate on his daughter, a young dancer who has suffered a terrible accident. Bela saves her life, but becomes infatuated with the lovely woman.When the judge expresses his disapproval, Bela orchestrates a plan to eliminate any obstacles to his possessing the dancer- and recruits criminal Boris to help pull off his plan- using a horrid scheme to ensure that the thug must obey his commands. When his obsession with Poe is revealed by his construction of artifacts from Poe’s stories- and his eagerness to use them on his enemies- will he make the poor woman his own personal “Lenore”?

This 1935 Universal classic- the second to combine the talents of Bela and Boris as headliners- once again shows the creepy richness of atmosphere of that era’s horror films from the studio.We’ll fill you in on the cast- and also bring you a BIG bonus feature this week- a huge chunk of the old “Flash Gordon” serial done completely in”Svensurround”!

Please note- as many of my Facebook and twitter fans have failed to do- this is NOT the Vincent Price/ Roger Corman “Raven” horror comedy we have shown a few years ago. We do not currently have the broadcast rights to that one.

This “Raven” will run tonight at 10 pm eastern and pacific time, 9 pm central, and please check for the time we’ll run in your area. In our Chicago market, you get an encore run of “The Creature Walks Among Us” this morning at 11 am on WCIU, the U.

I again want to thank everybody who came out to visit me at the C2E2 convention last weekend. I wrote about it in our monthly newsletter (didn’t get that? Sign up for free here on our site, and your subscription will start with the next one!) We’ll try to show some of the photos in an upcoming show.

101 Responses to Once Upon a Sat. Night Dreary…Lugosi and Karloff in ’30s “The Raven”!

Sure am glad this is NOT the Vincent Price “comedy” edition of The Raven. I’ve always like spooky/horror movies and was “tricked” by the title of Price’s film during my formative years. I’m DEFINITELY looking forward to this broadcast.

Well drat! Svengoolie tonight gets the ‘hatchet job’ from my local Me-TV channel to air an NASL Soccer game instead. But thankfully the show will be ‘joined in progress’ so maybe I’ll catch half of The Raven. This isn’t the first time this has happened. Wish the stations would just time delay and show Svengoolie in its entirety instead of giving us a chopped, Sven-guh-oolie Show.

The 1935 version of “The Raven” features one of Bela’s all time great performances….he really lets it rip in this one. Leading lady Irene Ware had already been menaced by Lugosi before in “Chandu the Magician”.

Sven/Rich: Not to nitpick, but I think you have a typo in your summary. “The Raven” was not the first film to pair Boris and Bela. Actually, that distinction goes to “The Black Cat” (1934). If you don’t count their cameo appearances in Universal’s 1934 “Gift of Gab,” “The Raven” is the second film to feature the twin titans of terror together–how’s that for alliteration?

This one is a true classic–I remember seeing it for the first time on Chicago’s “Shock Theatre when I was a teen-ager in the 50s–Karloff’s make-up is really shocking! Totally different from Frankenstein, but shocking nonetheless!
“Shocking,” “Shock Theatre”–ya see what I did there??

Dale, Not to nitpick but none of those (That you mentioned” are the first movies with Karloff and Lugosi. Recent finds prove that Karloff and Lugosi were Indians in the 1920 german silent film “The last of the Mohicans”. 14 years earlier then the “The Black Cat.

I really wanted to be there to see you last Saturday, Mr. Goolie but something happened that required me to be elsewhere. No worries I’ll catch you later in the year. Really all I wanted to say was welcome back.

Anyhoo, looking forward to seeing you tonight. I am happy that you won’t be doing all new shows just yet, I am more concerned that you continue you’re recovery. Actually It would ideal if you marked you full return with the debut of the new coffin. Don’t know if you can manage that.

Joan, I believe the term is gooliehead. Sven, is there a correct term?! That would be cool.
Anyways, about in the newsletter you said what new memorabilia the fans would want. I think a BIG poster one could buy on the site. Also you could put some of your host segments on DVD.

A Poe story, Karloff and Lugosi, with Sven hosting!! My nightmares have come true!!! You got that Award for a darn GREAT reason!! Glad to know your recovery is coming along so nicely, too. And, to add to the mood, down here in FLA, it is going to be”A Midnite, Dark and Dreary”! I do luv it so

Peter: That being the case, I wonder if Boris and Bela shared any scenes together in that silent version of “Mohicans.” Who would have thought that, at the time, they would, some ten years later or so, become stars, and, later, pop cultural icons? I’m sure, to both of them at the time, this was just another job.

Dale, I believe that the scene they shared in the movie was them dancing around a fire. Of course there is probably o place the average person can watch tis movie. I think that the proof that they found was in a picture of them dancing around a fire in the movie. Back in the some what early days of film like (in this case) the early 1920’s people didn’t think that there would be any future interest in movies. Movies were more or less… disposable. I don’t know if your familiar with Gorges Millies. He was a French movie maker pre world war 1. When he tried to buy a movie camera, there were none to be found because people thought movies were a passing fad. Merely (somewhat) a circus act! And his heart was broken when the French army commanded that his movie reels be melted down for its celluloid chemical for army boots!

Knowing I had both Sven and The Raven to look forward to on Saturday has made me smile every time I thought of it, all week long. Then again, all I really need to do to smile is to think of Sven and rubber chickens. Many thanks for all that you do for us, Sven! Best to all!

So glad you will be on tonight, missed your return show last week because of minor league baseball, usually our station will join the show in progress, but last week after watching the ball game, they went to infomercials.

Peter: Probably Boris and Bela may not have even remembered what ever contact they had with each other while appearing in “The Last of the Mohicans.” I believe Bela had a featured role, as Magua; it’s likely that Boris, at that point in his career, was cast as an extra in the Indian dance scene that you mentioned. And yes, France’s Georges Melies is one of the giants of the silent cinema, possibly the world first fantasy film director. His special effects and camera wizardry were way ahead of their time. Director Martin Scorsese’s wonderful film “Hugo” is a well-deserved tribute to Melies, and a must-see for any classic movie lover.

How could Boris and Bela both be in The Last Of The Mohicans? That film was made in Germany. Bela was in Germany at that time, but to the best of my knowledge, BK was in America, and didn’t travel overseas until the 1930’s until he made his horror films in England. The actor you saw probably just looked like Karloff.

Stephen, No actually. Karloff indeed was in the film. and Karloff was NOT in America at the time. But in Britain where he was doing varied roles all over Europe. Even if there wasn’t proof a german 1927 silent film is a practical move for his career at that moment in time.

Stephen, And another thing. You got it all backwards you said “BK was in America, and didn’t travel overseas until the 1930′s until he made his horror films in England”. Karloff was in Europe at the time and didn’t make his AMERICAN movie debut until the 1930’s.

Where do rubber chickens come from anyway..?? People this stuff is so crazy it’s cool…I wouldn’t post here every week if I wasn’t totally impressed with the insanity of it all…I love it but still want to know..” What’s up with this Svengoolie.?”

Great movie! I always thought Karloff was much taller and bigger than Lugosi, not so much. Some of ‘the monster’s’ mannerisms coming through in Bateman, that was cute. And what a treat!!! Svensurround….YEA!!! Thanks Sven, you make my week, every week. Take care.

Sven, Interesting you mentioned the jealousy Bella had over Karloff’s success. I’ve always heard the contrary, they actually were fairly close friends. Don’t get me wrong, I adore Bella….but his range began & ended with “Dracula” and …drug addiction. Unfortunately. BUT Karloff was brilliant and very versatile. Even did broadway with THE Cary Grant and the great Josephine Hull in “Arsenic & Old Lace”!! I never heard of this movie, so what a treat for Karloff and Bella fans! Thanks Sven! Oh & I agree w/ an earlier post about “The Black Cat”, actually a pretty good gem of a horror flick, that paired the two horror giants! Peace & Ghouls, Jules

Rich/Sven – Loved the movie last night. It’s been many years since I’d seen that one and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire show. The Flash Gordon “Svensurround” segment was just the icing on the cake (or would that be just “the mold on the cheese”…?)

BTW, if there are any of you who missed Svengoolie’s first official public appearance last weekend (like me!), there’s a great write-up about on the TerrorDaves website. Don’t know if anyone has posted this yet:

Peter: Actually, Boris had been in quite a few American silent films in the 1920s, most notably “The Bells,” based, ironically on an Edgar Allan Poe short story, in which he plays opposite the great Lionel Barrymore. So he probably divided whatever film work he could get at that time between Europe and the U. S. , in addition to stage work.

And Jules, I agree with you about Karloff’s far wider range. Yes, he had a huge success on Broadway in “Arsenic and Old Lace,” but while Josephine Hull (sister of Henry Hull, of “Werewolf of London” fame) appeared with him in the play, Cary Grant was only in the Warner Brothers film version, directed by Frank Capra. While the play’s producers gave Ms. Hull time off to do the film, they refused to even temporarily part with Karloff, their star, for any length of time. Consequently, Raymond Massey played Karloff’s role in the movie. Karloff always regretted not having been given permission to do the film. It would also have, among other things, teamed him with Peter Lorre. Incidentally, Karloff, Lorre, and Lugosi–yes, all three– had earlier appeared together in RKO’s 1940 comedy musical mystery “You’ll Find Out” (the actual star of that movie, though, was band leader Kay Kyser). In 1942, Karloff would again appear with Lorre, in Columbia’s “The Boogie Man Will Get You, ” which was a definite imitation of “Arsenic.”

Dale and Jules, But still Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó (stage name Bela Lugosi!) is among the (at least) top 5 best horror actors of all time. I like Karloff more, but any critic agrees that Lugosi had magnificent movies (And not just Dracula). I agree he plays roles frequently that are or very similar to Dracula but Dracula was a GREAT role. Dracula is the most successful horror icon in HISTORY. Look at Lugosi’s filmography you will be impressed, to the point where he shouldn’t be bashed.

Clarence Linden “Buster” Crabbe was one of my first crushes as a little girl. Loved the SvenSurround of Flash Gordon, and thank you thank you thank you for including the atomtic furnace scene! I read somewhere that swimming is the perfect exercise, and for me, that scene proves it! He still makes me swoon

(For those who didn’t know, he was a gold medal Olympic swimmer in 1932.)

Adding to my wish list for Sven showings (darn those movie rights people btw)–X: The Man With The Xray Eyes.

Thanks Greg V. You get it too..This reminds me of Dr. Demento from years ago. Crazy fun that our parents never understood. I’m glad I accidentally ran into this on ME TV..Where’s Elvira..?? That would be really cool..Gives me something to look forward to on Saturday..I keep saying what’s up with this Svengoolie and rubber chickens because my wife asks me that..I just shrug and laugh. She did like the fake wind blowing in the background. I hope you keep it coming. Still what’s up with this Svengoolie..??

re: Arsenic and Old Lace. I had read once that Bela had replaced Karloff for a few weeks on Broadway in the role, (with lines suitably changed to, ‘he said I looked like Dracula’, for instance). A quick Google doesn’t seen to turn that up, though, Bela did perform in the play several times throughout his career.

Craig S, I think I can answer your question. Svengoolie is Rich Koz who hosts horror movies on Saturdays. In between commercial breaks he participates indifferent comedy sketches for the amusement of the viewers. Your wife may not get it because it is a form of elaborate comedy.(An acquired taste). They through chickens at him because koz used to be in a chicken man commercial in which he is jokingly made fun of by being thrown chickens at. More simply because it is funny!

Pete, you are wrong about K&L being in that film together. The IMDb list of Karloff’s films show no foreign films in the 1920’s. He played an uncredited part in an American version of the “The Last of The Mohicans”. Lugosi played Chingachgook in the the German film “Lederstrumpf”. Both films were made in 1920, so I can see why you might get confused.

Stephen, IMDB is very inaccurate about that kind of thing. It is a data base and someone can edit wrong information. It is just the wrong website for very detailed silent film history. Actually, Svengoolie agrees upon the subject as he has announced that. I’m talking about history that they just found in documents. This is online information. You gotta have connections.

Pete: Thanks for the Chicken Man commercial information. I didn’t know that myself and assumed the chickens were simply another holdover from the Jerry G. Sven days. I know they were featured on the earlier show.

Michael M: I know that the commercial is a PART of the whole thing. But rubber chickens for stand up comedy is actually historical. I’m not the best typer but you can get ALL the info at this Wikipedia link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_chicken

I always thought that Karloff’s role as Jonathan Brewster in Broadway’s “Arsenic and Old Lace” was partially inspired by his role in “The Raven.” Jonathan, too, was an escaped criminal seeking plastic surgery, in order to allude the police. The joke was that the surgeon, drunk, and having just seen “Frankenstein,” made him look like Boris Karloff! Whenever hearing anyone say that he looked like Karloff, Jonathan would go berserk! If anything, that showed you that Karloff did not have a big ego, and had no qualms about making fun of himself.

Karloff and Lugosi, by the way, were not close friends, but did respect each other, and always got along well when working together. So the movie “Ed Wood” is grossly inaccurate in having Martin Landau, as Lugosi, constantly talk about Karloff with a string of profanities. In fact, the Lugosi family deeply resented this portrayal of Bela as foul-mouthed, claiming that he was a gentleman who would never use that kind of language in public. Also, Bela Lugosi, Jr. has claimed that he never heard his father speak ill of Karloff. So the belief, perpetuated by the movie, that Lugosi hated Karloff is just not true. If anything, according to family members, he was mystified and even somewhat bemused by the fact that he had lost his horror film stardom to Karloff, but he certainly did not hate the man. As for Karloff’s opinion of Lugosi, he once graciously said about his frequent co-star, “Poor Bela. He deserved better than he what he got” [from Hollywood], which was true.

As for Lugosi’s range, as Jules had earlier remarked, yes, it was limited, due to his heavy accent, sometimes still uncomfortable command of English (as witnessed by his occasionally awkward handling of certain words and idioms, as I’ve mentioned on earlier posts), and theatrical acting style. It’s interesting to note that fellow Hungarians Peter Lorre and Paul Lukas seemed much more comfortable with the language, and, more to the point, adapted much more easily to film acting than Lugosi. Having said that, I don’t want to sound like I’m knocking Bela. His over-the-top acing for an over-the -top character like Vollin in “The Raven” is just what that the doctor ordered. And, when directed effectively, he COULD deliver more restrained performances, like his dignified, rival scientist in “The Invisible Ray,” and, especially, Greta Garbo’s Russian superior in “Ninotchka.” As for the occasionally wider range Hollywood would, all too infrequently, allow him to exercise, his Ygor in “Son” and “Ghost of Frankenstein” is as far away from Dracula as you can get. You can also count the great variety of roles he played on the stage, everything from Shakespeare to Christ, in a play about the Passion. But because of “Dracula’s” typecasting, and his sticking stubbornly to the theatrical style he was comfortable with, he never really exercised, for the most part, that same variety in films.

Dale, nice informative post. Re: Bela’s acting style and grasp of the English language. As he aged, he did seem to become much more comfortable on screen. I just now realize how subtle and easy-going his performance was in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. Of course, it was a role that he may have been very comfortable with also.

Greg V, Actually Karloff was very angry when asked to be in Abbot and Costello meet Frankenstein. He said (Very Angry) why would I give up my best role for laughs. He was even angry that the character of Frankenstein would be in the movie. Bela on the other hand didn’t want to do the role in A/C meet Frankenstein, probably felt the same way as Boris. But, Bela needed the money (probably to support his morphine addiction) so he took his role. Or maybe he needed the money because he wasn’t being paid enough. Hollywood was EXTREMELY racist at the time, even to immigrants. I don’t remember what character it was in Dracula, it was some nobody in the film and he was making double what Lugosi was. That could have been the case for him doing the comedy film. But Lugosi NEVER felt comfortable with the film. The accent change was probably due to his already long span of time living in the country.

Peter, thank you for chiming in. But, my point was just that Bela seemed to become much more comfortable on screen. Even if he didn’t care for the role, he came across more relaxed. As you say, perhaps just because he was here long enough to master the language better. Even in Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla, his performance wasn’t as ‘theatrical’ shall we say.

And now, the correct information- I use the chickens since it was a satple of Jerry G’s original Sven show. Chicken Man was a comedy radio serial done by Dick Orkin, and I worked on an entire run of that- no rubber chickens were involved. and, yes- rubber chickens are an old show biz staple- which is why Jerry decided to use them.

Peter: Yes, that’s true, Karloff said he had too much respect for the Monster, the character that had made him famous to, from his point of view, mock him. That’s why he turned down “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.” He did agree to pose for publicity photos outside of a New York heater showing the film in order to promote it , in exchange for the studio’s paying his hotel bill–and as long as he didn’t have to see the movie, he insisted!

Karloff, though, as I mentioned earlier, had no problem with poking fun at himself, and was perfectly happy to appear with Bud and Lou in “Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff.”

Greg, I agree with you about Lugosi’s becoming more comfortable with the English language later on. I also agree that he turns in one of his best performances in “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.” The authors of UNIVERSAL HORRORS think he’s even better as Dracula in that film than in the 1931 original, and I think they’re right.

Peter: I believe you’re referring to David Manners, who played Jonathan Harker in the 1931 “Dracula.” Lugosi, I remember reading more than once, accepted such a lower salary because
he did not want to risk losing the part to somebody else. BTW, Lillian Lugosi, the actor’s first wife, always thought that her husband had a lousy agent, who may have also persuaded him to take this studio-friendly deal, and she might well have been right!

Dale, I honestly did not know that Karloff took pictures to promote A/C meet Frankenstein. Abbot and Costello meet Frankenstein is the most entertaining horror/comedy I have ever seen. I really have to ask you where you possibly find info like this. It is quite impressive and amazing. Are there any particular books about universal horror?

BTW. I believe you meant to say New York Theater and not New York “Heater”?

Also, in Svengoolie’s newsletter he said what kind of new merchandise the fans would want. I can honestly say that some Svengoolie comedy comic books would be TOTALLY awesome. You know?

Sad news. Ray Harryhausen, special effects pioneer has passed on at 92. The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad was so great.

Ray Harryhausen pioneered stop-motion animation, creating classics such as ‘The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms,’ and ‘The 7th Voyage of Sinbad.’ Without his work, ‘there never would have been a “Star Wars” or a “Jurassic Park,”’ Steven Spielberg said.

Sorry if this was responded to elsewhere on this site (first time here!) but I have avague recollection of the letters segment, someone asking about the names of a couple moves.

The first mentioned “someone throwing their friend in the water, which was radioactive”. This sounds like it could be “The Flesh Eaters (1964)”; the opening scene has a guy and girl on a boat. The girl falls (or is pushed) overboard, and meets a nasty demise. The water isn’t radioactive, it’s filled with some nasty microorganisms.

This shows up on AMC once in a while. Not bad of its type. Worth a look. Stars Martin Kosleck.

Peter: Yes, I did indeed mean “theater.” I guess I didn’t catch that typo. I wish this blog came with an “Edit your post” button, so I could correct those kinds of errors.

As for books, there are two excellent ones I own that I still consult. One is UNIVERSAL HORRORS: THE STUDIO’S CLASSIC FILMS, 1931-1946, by Michael Brunas, John Brunas, and Tom Weaver (McFarland & Company, 1989). I think that should be required reading for any fan of the Universal horror classics. It’s been out of print for awhile, but a new edition was just reprinted a year ago, and I think might be available on Amazon. A second one is IT’S ALIVE, by Gregory William Mank (A. S. Barnes & Company, 1981). It’s an in-depth, informative, and entertaining book on all eight of Universal’s Frankenstein films from 1931-1948, including “A & C Meet Frankenstein.” Mank is a superb writer who has also published two books, just as good, on classic horror film actresses, such as Mae Clarke, Fay Wray, and Evelyn Ankers. IT’S ALIVE has long been out-of-print and might be harder to find, but might be available at libraries or used bookstores, or possibly on E Bay. I hope this helps.

Did anybody else think how incredibly stupid Dr. Vollin’s invited guests all were to stay the weekend at his private estate? As the authors of UNIVERSAL HORRORS point out, everybody had to have known what a whack job this guy was, especially Jean, who had been told by her father how badly his earlier conversation with the doctor. had gone. Dr. Vollin is clearly one order short of a Happy Meal, and they all still agree to drive off to his private, secluded place and thus put themselves at his mercy?! Oh, well, I suppose if they hadn’t, we wouldn’t have had the movie’s thrilling climax featuring the pit and pendulum and closing walls torture devices.

Also, I think it’s laughable how Judge Thatcher refers to Jerry Halden (Lester Matthews’ character) as “young Halden.” Young? Matthews was close to forty at the time, and even then was wearing a hairpiece, since he was beginning to bald very noticeably.

Dale – I think it is the old “suspension of disbelief” thing at work again. I also thought that it was interesting how the writers worked Jean’s transfer of allegiance from her father to her “intended”. It seems to me a cautionary message to young women of the day that they may think that they and their boyfriends are smarter than their parents, but that in truth, the parents are still wiser.

Dale, I agree it is strange that they came to his house for a weekend party after knowing he was physcologically incorrect.
Another note, I believe that judge that convicted Sacco and Vanzetti was named Judge Thatcher(Right at the time of this movie) Strange that the stupid one of the movie would take his name. Especially that he was ignorant to the fact that he could of been murdered. You know?

Lynn, I know! I can’t wait to buy the comic books.
P.S They will be framed and signed!

Peter – I like your thinking there. I simply would not have would not have made that connection, even though I believe the Sacco and Vanzetti judge was a Judge Thayer. So I doubt any reference was intended. But I still like that you thought about the possibility.

Dale – Yes, I did slip up and say “parents”, didn’t I? Silly me – the concept of a wise mother was not popular in that day!

Regarding why people would go to such an event: To this day, some people are willing to overlook something really distasteful about someone if they want to bask in their reflected renown. Happens all the time. This might have been the motive of some of the minor characters, but certainly not our main characters! I can’t stretch any logic to account for that one.

a sven comic book would be cool is alex ross doing the art work (sven has already been in dc comic he did a cameo in JLA: Liberty and Justice) how about a whole line sven action figures that would be awesome

Dale and Lynn, I’m not contradicting myself but just defending them. The times were much different back then. Even though a weekend party sounds very cheesy now back then it was perfectly normal. Bela Lugosi played a renowned foreign surgeon/Baron who is very rich. Though many would have left when he was on his couch talking about death but it wasn’t strange for people to express their feelings, and I think the people suspected he was just being poetic. I don’t know if it is stereotypical but I imagine those western Europeans as being very poetic. ON the other hand, did anyone notice that when the daughter argues with her father that he was just entertaining the guests she looks VERY insecure like she knows something is wrong but feels like me maybe she owes him a debt? Even at the beginning when he is playing the organ, she looks like she doesn’t want to be there (Uncomfortable), then makes up a compliment.
Just an observation. Another thing not to bash the movie. But was anyone else laughing when Boris tells Bela how his whole life people have old him he was ugly and then Bela says “why are you telling me this”? “I’m not interested in your life story”. I thought that was funny how he said that. Because when I picture Bela in a movie he is always Very accommodating and trying to reassure people who are uncomfortable with him. Sometimes he is stern but NEVER rude (Except this time). You know?

Dan I, I have no clue who is doing the art for the new comics coming out. Alex Ross is cool but I think he wouldn’t be interested. I think a realistic artist would be he crew from IDW who do the Doctor Who stuff. But anyway I’m very excited about them. I hope its a frequent issue like monthly or something. I’m sure Svengoolie will keeps us updated on the comics. Action figure, like you said, would also be cool. But not like action figures like collectibles. A set would be even cooler with Sven, Doug Graves, Tombstone, Kerwyn, Fraido, the hand, the coffin, even the dungeon. Just a thought. (A really cool thought!)

Because it is an extremely cool piece of Chicago. My kids drove with me for 2 hours to attend an appearance by Sven. Waited three hours in line to meet him, and then drove two hours back to our old house in DeKalb.

But each of them now proudly display their autographed chickens in their new bedrooms in North Carolina.

We are doing our best to spread the word down here about our favorite Goolie.

Great program, keep them coming . Hoping to have you back full time soon, but looking forward to some vintage Sven just the same.

One last thought regarding the weekend party: Think Hollywood, guys. Insert a name of any tabloid star you like (or don’t like!). Can’t you imagine certain people you know saying, “A weekend party at THEIR house? Sure, I’d go. Yeah, they are a bit strange, but what an opportunity!” We like to imagine ourselves being above the pull of that, and maybe we are. But don’t kid yourself about the attraction of it to some people. And we all have our blind spots. If you wouldn’t do it for a movie star, would you do it for a rock star? A sports star? A classical pianist? A scientist?

First, Lynn-Yeah I mean I think we are all on the same page with that. And I agree with you. The point of weekend parties was so you can drink as much as you want and play cards etc without having to ride your carriage or slow car home. These days cars go 50x faster so even if it is late you can drive home in 15 minutes. Those people drove home in 45 minutes.

Greg- Yeah there should be an original Sven IF there was action figures. But what you need to remember is that Sven said they are planning on comics. He didn’t really say anything about figures. (Though it would be totally awesome!)

Peter, Lynn: Good points. And Peter, while we’re on the subject of unintentionally funny lines, I think another one is Bateman’s and Vollin’s constant use of the word “fix” to refer to changing Bateman’s face. Here are two such references from the film:

Bateman: “Do you mean you’ll fix me?”

Vollin: …”If you touch that switch, I’ll not fix you!”

To me, the word “fix” sounds like a euphemism a pet owner would use to refer to neutering or spading, as in “getting the cat fixed.”

Also, Vollin’s warning Bateman to not interfere (per that second line I quoted) reminds me of a father warning his kids that if they touch his prized bowling trophies, they’ll be hell to pay!

Dale, Yeah I did notice that “fix” statement pretty funny. There are a lots of stuff like that. Are you familiar with Mystery Science Theater 3000? That show is my second favorite horror/sci-fi host show. They make fun of unperposefully funny things in film.

Svengoolie, Do you currently have the right for The Abominable Dr. Phibes. And Dr. Phibes Rises Again?

This showing of Svengoolie was from 2013 and thus was recent….. It was excellent. The movie was quite creepy! The Flash Gordon episode in Svensurround was an added plus. I like the Svensurround because I can hear the sound coming from the rear Pro-Logic speaker, that’s how I know it is encoded in surround-sound.